Open Source Licenses and Embrace-Extend-Extinguish

[Arnoud Engelfriet]

Chris DiBona wrote:
> Actually, protocols specifically are not copyrightable. thier
> specifications docs can be, as can software that exercises a protocol.
> The reason that dvds (and not cd) reading software is controversial is
> because the dmca has a special provision when a program circumvents
> encryption, no matter how trivial, to allow for the transfer of
> copyright works, then that program can come under certain penalties.

Right. The more common way to enforce this type of restriction is
to tightly control access to the specification doc and only release
it to people who sign a contract promising to adhere fully to the
spec and nothing else. And of course to keep the spec confidential.

Arnoud

-- 
Arnoud Engelfriet, Dutch & European patent attorney - Speaking only for myself
Patents, copyright and IPR explained for techies: http://www.iusmentis.com/
              Arnoud blogt nu ook: http://blog.iusmentis.com/